Volunteers in Middelfart expand Cycling Without Age initiative to reach homebound seniors in Denmark

For several years, volunteers in Middelfart have been cycling with nursing home residents to combat loneliness as part of the “Cycling Without Age” movement. The project is now expanding to include older individuals living in their own homes.

Hans Møller serves as a volunteer “pilot,” which means he pedaled while the elderly sit in a carriage at the front. Every Monday, Møller takes his usual route with nursing home residents, cycling through the pedestrian streets, admiring the townhouses, and enjoying views of the old and new Little Belt Bridges. The carriage they use is an electric “Rickshaw.”

“Upon returning, they say, ‘What a lovely break we’ve had,’” Møller shares. This feedback fuels his enthusiasm after three years of participating in the initiative, and he is certain that the project needs to expand further.

“There is a need. Their life partners may have passed away, leaving them alone in their apartments without the ability to form new networks,” he explains. According to the Foundation for the Protection of the Lonely Elderly, around 100,000 seniors experience loneliness to a degree that affects their daily lives. Christine Swane, the foundation’s director, emphasizes the urgent need to address this issue. “If loneliness persists for years, it leads to increased illness and a higher risk of premature death,” she states.

The team in Middelfart consists of 16 volunteers and three “Rickshaw” bicycles. “A good experience shared with others fosters well-being, and these bike rides are beneficial for the elderly,” Swane notes. She believes that cycling could serve as a bridge for individuals to engage in more social relationships. The expansion of the project in Middelfart has begun, with the first residential areas chosen for picking up solitary residents for bike rides.